Redirecting site from html/php to wordpress

[DarinPirkey]

I've never come across this and haven't been able to really find anything that explains it very well.  I want to get opinions before we make a definitive decision.

Here's the scenario...

I am working on a site that was built in HTML/PHP and some of the pages are ranking pretty well. (some page 1, but not number 1)

We are going to start using the Wordpress platform by year's end.

The pages that were built in html have been built a little spammy but they still rank.  I just think they are keyword stuffed a little and not very "reader friendly"  (I think the last person was spinning content).

So, we've built completely new content on our new pages and we've commissioned really good content writers for them.  I will be handling the on-page SEO going forward so I know what to do there.  My questions are this....

1. Should I 301 the old pages to the new pages with the better content? (old pages have the .html or .php extensions so www.example.com/keyword.php will become www.example.com/keyword-keyword

2. Is there any negative side to doing this since the content will be completely different then the old pages that are being 301 from.  (Keywords are pretty much staying the same with the exception of minor variations. ie, www.example.com/red-cashmere-sweater.php to www.example.com/cashmere-sweater)

I ask this because I've moved sites before where I've just changed the location of the same content.  I've never done it where the content is changing and so is the URL extension.

Thank you in advance for your help and guidance.

[Bryant-Jaquez]

If the content is on the same topic (for example, a page about dogs to a page about dogs) than you should 301 it. It sounds like you are still ranking so Google has not penalized your old page and therefore it still has valuable link-juice.

Do not 301 the page If your new page is on an unrelated topic (for example, a page about dogs and a page about real-estate.)

[DarinPirkey]

Yes, the pages are the same topic but completely different content.

Thank you.

[JarnoNijzing]

I would go with the suggestion of BrewSEO. 301 the pages that are on topic if they are off topic then no 301 redirect.

I would make sure that all incoming links to the old page get redirected to the new as soon as possible. If you know what the page is going to be, maybe ask them kindly already to update their links by the end of the year. This will help Google correct your website much faster. Also use webmaster tools. They also have a moving section I believe so insert your information there.

hope this helps you a bit

just my 2 cents

Kind regards

Jarno

[DarinPirkey]

If you are talking about Change of Address, I thought that's for moving sites to a new domain.  Our domain is staying the same.  Thanks for your advice about links.  We have a lot of citations pointing to the old extensions (they have 53 locations)

[JarnoNijzing]

If you change the entire Address you'll also use 301. So that's why i think it is possible.